Wooden Core Boxes vs. Plastic Core Trays

Pros

Easy to custom-build in a variety of sizes
Strong, rigid product
Good in cold climates
Long and narrow design enables it to be carried by one person ‘on the hip’ easily
In places where timber is a resource, its use often helps local communities

Cons

Susceptible to termites and insects so it’s not recommended where these insects thrive
Timber can rot when left in the elements and can cause core loss or sample bias
Wood splinters in hands can occur on rare occasions
Heavier to lift compared to core boxes made from other materials
Its long, narrow shape makes it harder to photograph
Deforestation is involved – not good for a company’s image should they care about corporate social responsibility

Conclusion

Overall, wooden boxes are fundamentally a great product. It’s been used for years and possibly for more years to come. However, they’re defenseless against rotting and termites, and smaller-built people can have lighter trays to carry.

Why try plastic core trays?

Plastic core trays are not new technology, but aside from having a proven track record of durability, it has evolved into more than a basic core sample container. More and more innovations are built into the plastic core tray that are eliminating entire sections of the downstream processes that in turn lead to savings in money and man-hours.

Pros

It’s been proven in high (140°F/60°C) and low (-58°F/-50°C) temperatures around the world
Designed to be stacked in pallets and left outside for the entire life of the mine
The expense of building a storage shed or having racking is completely removed
Chemically inert product, not susceptible to sulfide corrosion
Lightweight to carry
High-impact resistant and built to last
Not susceptible to termites or rotting
No need to DIY assemble the boxes on site

Cons

As they are not flat-pack, they can be a little bulkier, leading to higher transport costs
You are limited to the sizes the manufacturer offers, as the injection mold tooling is expensive to set up

Conclusion

With the Pros vastly outweighing the Cons, it’s no surprise that the plastic core tray is steadily becoming the most predominant form of storing and transporting core across the globe.